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Swiss to jail incurable sex offenders for life
Geneva, Feb 09: Switzerland will jail for life sex offenders and violent criminals who are deemed incapable of reform under a change to the law Swiss voters approved in a referendum.
Geneva, Feb 09: Switzerland will jail for life sex offenders
and violent criminals who are deemed incapable of reform under a
change to the law Swiss voters approved in a referendum.
The measure, which was opposed by the country's coalition
government, was approved yesterday by some 54 percent of voters in a
referendum called after supporters gathered the needed 100,000
signatures to stage the ballot.
Critics fear the new law, which will take the form of a
constitutional amendment to be prepared by parliament, could
contravene international human rights treaties.
Under the proposal, violent criminals or sex offenders who are
considered very dangerous to society will be examined on conviction
by two independent psychiatrists
If the two experts agree that the offenders are incurable, then
they must be jailed for the rest of their lives. They can only be
released on the basis of new scientific evidence that a cure is
possible.
The government, which includes all the leading Swiss parties, was already preparing a reform to allow for tougher sentences for sex offenders and violent criminals.
It had urged Swiss voters to reject the plan because, it said, it made no allowance for the fact that people can change. But under Swiss rules of direct democracy, the voter has the last word.
Bureau Report
The government, which includes all the leading Swiss parties, was already preparing a reform to allow for tougher sentences for sex offenders and violent criminals.
It had urged Swiss voters to reject the plan because, it said, it made no allowance for the fact that people can change. But under Swiss rules of direct democracy, the voter has the last word.
Bureau Report